Awkward and Awesome Thursday

It's been awhile since we have done a good A and A session here. So, I thought it was about time. No need for loads of words today. Let's just get right to it.


~Awkward~
- Wearing mustard tights and having everyone stare at your legs. Seriously, people. They are colored tights. I could have added a second head and I doubt I would have gotten any more looks. Apparently Va. Beach is not prepared for mustard colored tights. (I, however, liked the look;)

-My 3 year getting so upset that my legs had turned yellow that he started crying. Point taken. No more mustard tights.

- While trying on a work-appropriate pencil skirt at a more adolescent clothing store, I overheard some girls moaning in disgust, "This dress is like something a 30 year old would wear. Yuck." I kinda wanted to go out and see if I would, in fact, wear that dress.  But it was weird to hear someone so grossed out by something a 30 year old would wear...

- Being told that I look just like Samantha from Bewitched, and than told to wiggle my nose...multiple times.

-Colin's knowledge of the red alarm button on my keys. Our poor neighbors probably wonder why our car alarm goes off randomly throughout the day.


~Awesome~
- Daffodils. In February.

-It's 74 degrees today. The boys played outside in a t-shirts and it was glorious.

- After all the crazies took all the Jason Wu for Target stuff, I didn't think I would ever see this guy. But I found him tucked into a corner of a shelf. Thank you Christmas gift cards!

- We have a little road trip planned for Saturday and I am very, very excited about it. Some shopping, some family time and just getting away for the day.  Definitely looking forward to our weekend.

-I am going to be an Auntie! My sister is expecting her first baby and I am very much looking forward to snuggling a new little one.

- Shamrock shakes are back. Early. PTL.


The best, most awesome part of today?

This guy. 

 

It's been a long two months. 

Welcome home, Mr. Dishwasher. I will try to protect you from my 18 month old better that the last guy in your place.

What is awesome or awkward that is going on in your life?

Toddler Tuesday

It started with the little one draping his chubby little hand over his brother's shoulders. Than he started patting his brother's neck.

"That feels nice, Colin. Here. Let me rub your back, too."

It lasted roughly ten seconds.

Ten sweet quiet seconds while they rubbed each other's back and watched their favorite tank engine.

Than, one of them moved, and the little moment was gone.

But what beautiful 10 seconds it was to watch.

My boys.

They will always have each other.

Friday Favorites: Snapshots of Love

Just a few snapshots from our day of Love...or Valentine's Day.

Happy Friday!

Colin bringing in flowers for Mommy.

Some lovely goodies.

Flowers from the boys and a hand-made card from Ryan. It was my favorite part!



It's a good thing Jack can't read. ;)

Valentine's dessert. No bake Nutella cheesecake with from scratch whipped cream.

Enjoy your weekend!

We are going shopping for a dishwasher and recovering our dining room chairs.

That is some domestic bliss right there.

Parents Night Out

Every few months, a lady who runs the MOPS at our church hosts a Parents Night Out event. Parents can drop their kids off at church from 5pm-9pm and get the night to themselves. The kids get to play with all their buddies and the parents have safe and super affordable childcare for the evening.

This past Friday, Ryan and I took advantage and went out to an early Valentine's Day dinner.

Sparkles were in order.

Now, we ate at P.F. Chang's for dinner. Ryan knows that one of my absolute favorite dishes ever is the Dan Dan noodles dish. I love it so much. In fact, I loved it so much I ate all of it before I remembered to take a picture of it. Just imagine the best mix of salty, sweet and spicy sauce with noodles, peanuts and cool cucumbers add crunch factors. Mmmmm.

I could eat Dan Dan every day of the week...

After a nice dinner, we went on a little walk and headed to a gelato/crepe cafe.

Salted Caramel and Chocolate-Covered Raspberries for him. Banana Walnut and Peanut Butter Cup for me.

It was so good.

And we topped off the evening with a little Starbucks.

We decided to just go to our car and drink our coffee, as the place was packed with people.

I think this means we are getting old.

The dark, warm car sounded so much better than the bright, loud restaurant.

Either way, we enjoyed our date. We picked the kiddos up at 9pm and were more than happy to head home, full and content with our little break.

I hope you are all having a fantastic Valentine's Day...no matter what you are doing.

Mother Sick Days

Source: joannagoddard.blogspot.com via Joanna on Pinterest

 Mommy sick days? They do not exist.

Bummer.

I could use one.

The Little Things

I do not lead a glamorous life.

Most of my days are exactly the same, yet always different. Play with the boys, work, clean up after the boys, cook for the boys and referee the boys.

When not having to leave the house for work, church, or other social obligations, I rarely get out of sweat pants.  I wish I was a mom that got dressed every day and looked fabulous all the time. I don't. I wear yoga/sweatpants most of the days because 1. Colin throws food and I don't want to ruin my nice clothes. 2. I try to work out in the afternoons, and already being in work out type clothes gives me less of an excuse. 3. I am dramatically more comfortable.

It can get a bit exhausting, this clean, chase children, cook, work, clean, workout, chase children cycle.

In between wiping the snotty noses and kissing tears away, it gets easy to forget about the good stuff. The little things that make each uneventful, yet full day complete. The little things that tend to erase the negative things.

So today, I am choosing to remember those little things. The highlights of my day. The things that 25 years from now, I want to remember.

I want to remember:

 The feeling of Colin's chubby little hands clinging around my neck.

The smell of his skin, fresh from his afternoon nap.

Jack singing  'Kumbaya' with a British accent.

Jack kisses, especially when he tries to kiss my nose.

Colin's smoker's laugh.

Stories of superheros and animals told by a 3 year old with an incredible imagination. (and vocabulary)

Jack telling me he loves me throughout the day.

Sweet little faces fast asleep.

The sound of their giggles and the grins on their faces when I finally have had enough and wrestle both of them down to the ground...and stay on the ground to get trampled a bit.

Jack picking me flowers.

Colin's cheesy smile. The one where his eyes are almost closed because he is grinning so wide.

Tired heads that lay on my tired shoulders.

I could go on and on...

So, on long tiring Mondays, when the dishes are piled high from the weekend and the floors filled with stolen cupcake crumbs... I want to remember these little things.

Because it is the little things that make up the joys in life.

Kale Chips

You guys.

I ate a 2lb bag of kale almost single-handedly. (Ryan and the kids had a little bit.)

In 4 days.

It was like I could not eat enough.

Super crispy, salty, with a slight taste of heat.

Kale is super food.



~Kale Chips~


- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
- Trim off all of the hard stems
- Drizzle with olive oil. I used a chipolte flavored olive oil and it made it just that much better.
- Sprinkle with sea salt (or whatever salt you have)
- Toss the kale and spread in a single layer on a sheet pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until they are crispy but not burnt.

Seriously. I love these thing. I need another bag of Kale.